How digital can help museums to reach new audiences?

Digital technology provides an amazing opportunity for museums by allowing them to be ubiquitous, to exist in a variety of forms that correspond to the needs of different visitors, to engage with new audiences and, above all, to forge relationships that can be far more meaningful than traditional museum visits.
For many years museums have developed many technological offers and tools for their visitors: richer and richer websites, mobile tools, apps, in-gallery displays… And even if we know that digital is not a magical answer, we also know now for sure, thanks to many studies, that those offers really help people to make the most of their visit, prepare it, share it, and engage with art, culture and knowledge in a larger way… But how many of those tools have brought new audiences to museums, people uncomfortable with the museum, uninterested in it? Addressing the needs of someone who is already, in a way or another, connected with the museum is one thing, tailoring something to someone you don’t know and who doesn't know you, has never heard of you, and has never even wanted to know you… That’s another challenge.

Bibliography: Digital technology provides an amazing opportunity for museums by allowing them to be ubiquitous, to exist in a variety of forms that correspond to the needs of different visitors, to engage with new audiences and, above all, to forge relationships that can be far more meaningful than traditional museum visits.
For many years museums have developed many technological offers and tools for their visitors: richer and richer websites, mobile tools, apps, in-gallery displays… And even if we know that digital is not a magical answer, we also know now for sure, thanks to many studies, that those offers really help people to make the most of their visit, prepare it, share it, and engage with art, culture and knowledge in a larger way… But how many of those tools have brought new audiences to museums, people uncomfortable with the museum, uninterested in it? Addressing the needs of someone who is already, in a way or another, connected with the museum is one thing, tailoring something to someone you don’t know and who doesn't know you, has never heard of you, and has never even wanted to know you… That’s another challenge.